Rate My Professor Scott Ratima-Nolan

Scott Ratima-Nolan holds a Bachelor of Arts and served as Schools' Liaison Administrator and Campus Tours coordinator in the Division of External Engagement at the University of Otago. A descendant of Ngāti Kahungunu ki te Wairoa with Pasifika (Fiji) and Pākehā heritage, he draws on te ao Māori perspectives informed by his whānau, including his father Daniel Nolan, in his professional endeavors.

Scott Ratima-Nolan's research specializations focus on applying kaitiakitanga, the Māori philosophy of holistic stewardship, to conservation practices in heritage institutions. In his 2022 article 'Kaitiakitanga: Utilising Māori Holistic Conservation in Heritage Institutions,' published in the Journal of Conservation and Museum Studies, he examines how heritage organizations can address colonial legacies in collections, preservation, display, and interpretation. He posits that failing to do so perpetuates perceptions of colonial complicity and hinders diversity. Affiliated with the British Library at the time, he demonstrated practical applications of this approach alongside conventional methods to promote inclusivity and systemic change. Additionally, he contributed the chapter 'Towards Decolonising the British Library: A Staff-Led Perspective' to the book Narrative Expansions: Interpreting Decolonisation in Academic Libraries. In this work, as Conservation Support Assistant, he engaged with the Decolonise the BL Working Group and acknowledged support from managers Karen Bradford, Sarah Hamlyn, Dr Cordelia Rogerson, and Dr Paul Garside. His efforts extend to prior roles at the Wellcome Collection, emphasizing relationality, responsibility, and respect in managing cultural materials, including collaborations referencing Otago Museum and Te Papa Tongarewa.